Monorail support apparatus for a slurry transportation system

ABSTRACT

An underground slurry transportation system for a mine is made mobile by attaching a first and a second rail to the roof of a mine tunnel. The rails are parallelly spaced and each has the general cross sectional configuration of an I beam. The rails are attached to the roof by means of roof bolts. An adjustable coupling is provided so that the rails may be maintained fairly level in spite of the unevenness of the mine roof. A pair of slurry hoses is clamped together and supported in storage on the first rail and in active use on the second rail. The support system includes rollers on each of the rails which are attached to the clamps around the hoses. A conveyer is provided for transporting the hoses from the storage rail to the active rail. When the rail is required to make a 90* turn into another tunnel, a system is provided for maintaining orientation for the hose support system during the 90* turn.

United States Patent Jamison et al.

[ MONORAIL SUPPORT APPARATUS FOR A SLURRY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM [75] inventors: Will B. Jamison, Bethel Park, Pa; Arthur B. Coval, Columbus, Ohio [73] Assignee: Consolidation Coal Company,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

22 Filed: Apr. 18,1974

[2i] Appl. No.: 462,153

[52] US. Cl 137/344; 137/3551? [51] int. C]. 855G 53/30 [58] Field of Search 137/344, 355.16, 355.17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.803.498 8/l957 Touton H l37/344 Primary E \'aminerHenry T. Klinksiek Attorney, Agent, or FirmWilliam J. Miller [45] Nov. 18, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT An underground slurry transportation system for a mine is made mobile by attaching a first and a second rail to the roof of a mine tunnel. The rails are parallelly spaced and each has the general cross sectional configuration of an I beam. The rails are attached to the roof by means of roof bolts. An adjustable coupling is provided so that the rails may be maintained fairly level in spite of the unevenness of the mine roof. A pair of slurry hoses is clamped together and supported in storage on the first rail and in active use on the second rail. The support system includes rollers on each of the rails which are attached to the clamps around the hoses. A conveyer is provided for transporting the hoses from the storage rail to the active rail. When the rail is required to make a 90 turn into another tunnel, a system is provided for maintaining orientation for the hose support system during the 90 turn.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 1 of4 3,920,039

vm mm mm i wornom KNEE; QN u US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 2 of4 3,920,039

72 I 73 a 14 I g i 32 i 5 s3 000 23 33 56 as 55b 64 52 US. Patent Nov. 18,1975 Sheet30f4 3,920,039

US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet4 0f4 3,920,039

MONORAIL SUPPORT APPARATUS FOR A SLURRY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Prior art relating to the slurry hose transportation system is illustrated in Patent Application Ser. No. 389.273. filed Aug. 21. 1974. to E. H. Reichl. entitled A Mobil Slurry Handling System." US. Pat. No. 3260.548 also issued to E. H. Reichl, entitled Method and Apparatus for Continuously Mining and Transporting Coal. also relates to the above system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the above-described Application. the slurry hoses are supported by carts which are interconnected by a linkage. Some of the carts are powered and provide mobility to the slurry system. In some instances. how ever. an extremely uneven or damp mine floor may make a cart haulage system impractical. This invention discloses a slurry hose transportation system which is supported by an overhead monorail system. The unevenness of the roof can be accommodated by adjustments in the mounting means which attaches the mono rail to roof bolts placed in the mine roof.

The invention also provides for reduced moving frie tion in the mobility of the slurry hose transportation system as the continuous miner moves into and out of the coal seam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. I is a schematic layout ofa slurry hose transportation system;

FIG. 2 is the top view of an 180 conveyer used in a monorail slurry transportation system;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2 taken through lines 33;

FIGv 4 is the top view of a continuous mining machine and slurry hopper apparatus and also illustrates the position of the monorail with respect to these apparati;

FIG. 5 is a side view of apparati illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is the top view of a 90 turn apparatus; and.

FIG. 7 is an end view of FIG. 6 taken in the direction of arrows 7-7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Similar numbers will be used throughout the specification for similar elements.

Referring to all of the drawings. but in particular to FIG. I, a mine digging machine I has the product loosened by machine I0 and picked up by a convcyer II. The product I2 is dropped or conveyed into a crusher 13, which maybe any usual type crusher such ilS a roll crusher or jaw crusher, and may include means for separating the material that does not need to be crushed and crushing only the larger material. Crushers are well knoun and will not he further discussed. The material from the crusher is dropped .into a hopper 14 which contains water. A water level control l applies a continuous signal through line 16 to a valve I7 which is connected to .i water line I8. Waterline I9 is con ncctcd to valve l7 and through a plurality ot slots (not shown] communicating \HIII the interior of the hopper The hopper illustrated herein is for the purposes of asl.\llflg in the understanding of the intention and is the sub ect matter ofti patent application entitled Slurry.

2 Hopper System," Ser. No. 389.273. filed Aug. 21. I973. and copcnding with this application.

A slurry pump 20 has its inlet connected to the outlet 21 of hopper I4. Slurry pump 20 has an outlet 22 connected to a slurry hose 23. Water hose 24 is connected to water line 18. Both hoses 23 and 24 are supported b a slurry transportation system which essentially comprises a fixed monorail 25 mounted into the roof of the mine and near one side of the tunnel. A second mono rail 26 is mounted in the roof parallel to monorail Z5 and near the opposite side of the tunnel. Connected t monorail 26 is one or more 90 turns 27 and extensions 28. Hoses 23 and 24 are strapped together by bands 32 which are spaced along the pair of hoses by an amount sufficient to support the hose without undue droop or overstressing of the support system.

Attached to each of the bands 32 is a roller support mechanism (not shown but to be later described) A. conveyor 33 is attached to transfer the hoses 23 and 24 from monorail 25 to monorail 26. Conveyer 33 is pow ered by a vehicle 34 which may be of any usual type operated by electricity, diesel fuel.or other acceptable means. The termination of water hose 24 is connected to a water source 35. Hose 23 terminates at a remote terminal 29 which connects to a surface separator through a pipeline 3]. The excess water from terminal 29 can be fed through a pipe 36 to water source and the excess water from the surface separator 3 can like wise be fed through a pipe 37 to water source 35. SUmt. water will be lost in the process or the demand for water may vary. A makeup supply 38 connects through a pipe 39 to water source 35. Operation of the overall system as illustrated in FIG. 1 operates in the following manner:

As the mining machine 10 removes product I2. it I carried up by conveyer II and passed to crusher 13 where it is deposited in hopper [4. Pump 20 pulls the slurry mixture from the hopper and passes it into line 23 where it is eventually received at a remote terminal 29, pumped to the surface through pipeline 31. and separated by separator 30. As mining machine It! works in and out of the coal scam. the slurry hose must follow these movements. Machine It) removes product I2 such as coal. The hoses being operated on monorails 25, 26, 27, and 28 are free to move as the mining machine moves. Thus. as the mining machine moves in :t forward direction into the coal seam. the hoses 23 lllll 24 must move in the direction of arrow 45. Movement of the slurry system in the direction of arrow requires an additional length of hose to be Il'lIIlSIL'TI'utI from monorail 25 to monorail 26. To effect this ll'llllr fer, conveyer 33, which is powered by vehicle 3-4, moves in the direction of arrow 46. When the mining machine must move out of the seam. less hose ineeded on monorails 26, 27, and 28, and thus soin. must be retransferred to monorail 25. A he hos move in the direction of arrow 47. conveyor 3.3 inns. move in the direction of arrow 48.

Referring to FIGS 2 and 3, con ey-er 33 l\ lllll Il'LlIt.t along with monorails 25 and 26. A mine tunnel. grille! ally referred to by the number 50. has a roof 51 and floor 52. Monorails 25 and 26 are attached to the MW 51 of mine tunnel by means of roof bolts 53 Ron bolts 53 are driven into the roofSI by any usual "mean. and tightened or secured. A linkage 54 is then attach between monorail 26 and roof bolt 53. lilllxrlilt should be ad ustable in order to accommodate the ances in the roof profile. Other systems. of -rm: can

c Ll

3 be used in lieu of linkage; for example, bolts in order to accommodate variations in the roof profile. Conveyer 33 is pushed in the mine tunnel 50 by vehicle 34 so that it is directly under and aligned with monorails 25 and 26.

Conveyer 33 comprises a plurality of side frame members SS-a and 55-b. A bottom member 56 connects side members 55-h. A plurality of rollers 57 are attached between side frame members SS-a and 55-!) by any usual means such as brackets 58. The spacing between rollers 57 is dimensioned to accommodate the maximum width of the hoses 23 and 24 and brackets 32. A plurality of bottom rollers 59 is journaled be- 1 tween side frame members 55-h. A plurality of smaller input and output rollers 60 is mounted between side frame members 55-!) and used to assist the hoses and frame 32 onto the conveyer. Attached to vehicle 34 is a hydraulic cylinder 6! between bottom member 56 and a top frame 62.

Conveyer 33 is divided into a large section generally referred to by the number 63 and two smaller sections generally referred to by the number 64. Section 64 is connected to section 63 by a pivot 65. A rolling contact 66 is attached to large section 63 and provides rolling contact with the floor 52 of mine hall 50. Additional support is provided by the wheels 67 which are journaled to vehicle 34 and driven by a motor 68. Motor 68 is driven by any usual means such as electricity and such method of driving motor 68 will not be further described since it is well known in the art. Motor 68, however, is coupled to wheels 67 through a driving means such as drive shaft 69.

Hoses 23 and 24 are normally supported on monorails 25 and 26 by means of mobile hooks generally referred to by number 70. Each mobile hook comprises a plurality of support wheels 71, a support frame 72, and a book 73 which is attached pivotally to support frame 72. Bracket 32 has a C-shaped retaining means 74. The mobile hook assembly 70 will be more completely described in FIG. 7 and will not be further described here.

The operation of the 180 conveyer is described in the following manner:

Hoses 24 and 23 are supported by bands 32 through C-shaped retaining means 74 to mobile hooks 70. Mo bile hooks 70 are free to roll along monorails 25 or 26. As the conveyer vehicle 34 moves in a manner to transfer hoses 23 and 24 from monorail 26 to monorail 25, for example. the hose enters smaller section 64 and is lifted gradually by the ramp comprising conveyer rollers 59. Once the hose is lifted sufficiently to disconnect book 73. it is disconnected from C-shaped retaining means 74. The hose is then supported by rollers 56 and 57. As the vehicle 34 moves, the hose will be physically moved around the conveyer to a point where mobile hooks 70 on monorail 25 can be inserted in the C- shaped retaining means 74. As the hose continues to move, hooks 70 will take up the weight of the hose assembly. Spare mobile hooks 70-a, 70-h, and 70-c, for example. are stored on the monorail until they are needed. The incline ofthe conveyer 33 can be adjusted by hydraulic cylinder 6!. The pivot 65 permits movement of smaller section 64 to accommodate any change in spacing between monorails 25 and 26.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the monorail system is illustrated in cooperation with the continuous mining machine and slurry hopper system. Monorail 28 is attached to the roof 51 as the roof bolting operation progresses. Normally the roof bolting is done as the mining progresses, and normally the mining machine 10 is only slightly ahead of the roof bolting operation. As monorail 26 meets the 90 turn 27, a transition at point 80 must occur in order to accommodate the 90 turn. Thus, the monorail which normally lies a fixed distance below the roof 5] of the mine tunnel 50 should have the 90 turn raise until it is nearly adjacent to the roof surface at transition 80. The transition will normally provide head room for the slurry hopper l4 and the continuous miner 10, along with providing room to mount a thrust plate to accommodate the side thrust by the hose as it proceeds around the 90 turn.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the 90 turn is illustrated in detail and comprises a curved 90 plate 86 having a plurality of holes 87 of a diameter sufficient to accommodate a roof bolt 53 (see FIG. 3). Curved plate 86 has a thrust plate 88 made from a C-shaped steel beam curved to conform to the 90 curve. C-shaped beam 88 is attached to curved 90 plate 86 by any usual means such as welding or bolting. A plurality of support plates 89 may also be added between thrust plate 88 and curved plate 86 to further support plate 88 from side thrust. Mobile hooks 70 as previously described have a plurality of support wheels 71 mounted on each side of monorails 25, 26, or 28. All of the above referenced monorails may be made of an I beam such that wheels 71 are set on the inside of the l beam. Each of the wheels 71 is supported through a bearing 90 and frame 91 to shaft 92. Hook 74 is connected through a support frame 93 through a bearing housing 94 to shaft 92. A thrust wheel 95 is pivotally mounted to frame 93 at 96. A "tag line 100 not previously described. may be attached between each of the mobile hooks 70 at a mounting 101 to remove some of the tension load from the hoses 23 and 24 as they are parallel along the monorails.

Operation of the 90 turn is as follows: As the wheels enter the 90 turn along the monorail at point [02, side thrust in the direction of arrow I03 is created. Wheel 95, as a consequence of side thrust [03, is forced against thrust plate 88. Without side thrust plate 88, the entire hose assembly 23 and 24 would swing in an arc in the direction of arrow 105 (see FIG. 7). Since the pull of the entire system is through tag lines 100, the majority of the thrust will be against thrust plate 88, thereby preventing the side swing in the direction of arrow I05.

Conclusions A slurry transportation system has been disclosed, using a monorail for both storing the hose which is not presently being paid out. and for a monorail system for moving the hose as the continuous mining machine progresses into and out of the mine face. A particular embodiment has been disclosed. It is obvious that other embodiments can be disclosed which clearly focus within the specifications and the pending claims. Various materials. for example, can be used for the monorail: steel. aluminum, aluminum magnesium, and the like. Means can be used to attach the monorail by other than roof bolts; for example. beams can be placed across the ceiling, or U shaped beams can be placed across the ceiling and extended to the floor of the mine. Other types of conveyers can be utilized; for example,

a conveyer which is attached to the monorail rather than the floor of the mine as illustrated. Automatic methods can be used to connect and disconnect the hooks. or systems other than hooks can be incorporated.

What is claimed is:

I. In an underground mine having a roof and a floor, a slurry transportation system comprising a first hose adapted to transport water and a second hose adapted to transport slurry, an input system, means for connecting said first and second hoses to said input system and output system, and means for connecting said first and second hoses to said output system. and apparatus for movably supporting said first and second hoses, com prising:

a. a rail means;

b. means attaching said rail means to the roof of said mine;

c. strapping means attached around said first and second hoses and spaced along their lengths; and,

d. means movably supported by said rail means attached to said strapping means.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said rail means comprises:

a. first and second parallelly spaced rails attached to the roof of said mine; and

b. conveyer means for transferring a portion of the length of said first and second hoses from said first to said second rail.

3. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said rail means to the roof of said mine comprises roof bolt means; and, means for attaching said rail means to said roof bolt means.

4. System as described in claim 1 wherein said rail means comprises a beam having at least a flat bottom portion with a vertically extended bisecting member.

5. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said rail means comprises a beam having a flat bottom portion and flat top portion and vertically extended bisecting member joining said flat bottom portion with said flat top portion.

6. System as described in claim 5 wherein said means for attaching said rail means to the roof of said mine comprises a plurality of roof bolts, including means for adjustably attaching each of said roof bolts to the flat, top portion of said rail means.

7. A system as described in claim 6 wherein said means for movably supporting said strapping means comprise first and second rollers for engaging said flat bottom portion on each side of said vertically extended bisecting member.

8. A system as described in claim 7 wherein said means for attaching said rail means to the roof of said mine comprises a plurality of roof bolts; and, means for attaching said vertically extended bisecting member to each of said roof bolts.

9. A system as described in claim 7 wherein said means for movably supporting set clamping means additionally includes a third roller having its axis normal to the axis of said first and second rollers and having a diameter dimensioned to engage a thrust supporting plate, and wherein said thrust supporting plate is attached to the roof of said mine and extending normal to the plane formed by said roof.

10. A system as described in claim 9 comprising a cable attached between each of said movable supporting means and having a length equal to the spacing of said strapping means along said first and second hoses. a: a: 

1. In an underground mine having a roof and a floor, a slurry transportation system comprising a first hose adapted to transport water and a second hose adapted to transport slurry, an input system, means for connecting said first and second hoses to said input system and output system, and means for connecting said first and second hoses to said output system, and apparatus for movably supporting said first and second hoses, comprising: a. a rail means; b. means attaching said rail means to the roof of said mine; c. strapping means attached around said first and second hoses and spaced along their lengths; and, d. means movably supported by said rail means attached to said strapping means.
 2. An apparatus aS described in claim 1 wherein said rail means comprises: a. first and second parallelly spaced rails attached to the roof of said mine; and b. conveyer means for transferring a portion of the length of said first and second hoses from said first to said second rail.
 3. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said rail means to the roof of said mine comprises roof bolt means; and, means for attaching said rail means to said roof bolt means.
 4. System as described in claim 1 wherein said rail means comprises a beam having at least a flat bottom portion with a vertically extended bisecting member.
 5. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said rail means comprises a beam having a flat bottom portion and flat top portion and vertically extended bisecting member joining said flat bottom portion with said flat top portion.
 6. System as described in claim 5 wherein said means for attaching said rail means to the roof of said mine comprises a plurality of roof bolts, including means for adjustably attaching each of said roof bolts to the flat, top portion of said rail means.
 7. A system as described in claim 6 wherein said means for movably supporting said strapping means comprise first and second rollers for engaging said flat bottom portion on each side of said vertically extended bisecting member.
 8. A system as described in claim 7 wherein said means for attaching said rail means to the roof of said mine comprises a plurality of roof bolts; and, means for attaching said vertically extended bisecting member to each of said roof bolts.
 9. A system as described in claim 7 wherein said means for movably supporting set clamping means additionally includes a third roller having its axis normal to the axis of said first and second rollers and having a diameter dimensioned to engage a thrust supporting plate, and wherein said thrust supporting plate is attached to the roof of said mine and extending normal to the plane formed by said roof.
 10. A system as described in claim 9 comprising a cable attached between each of said movable supporting means and having a length equal to the spacing of said strapping means along said first and second hoses. 